Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Restaurant Week is Coming!

The holidays may have come and gone, but here in Charlottesville, we at the Foxfield Innstill think it's the most wonderful time of the year. Why? Can't you feel it? There's a buzz in the air - it tickles your tastebuds and intrigues your palate... Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Charlottesville's Restaurant Week 2013 is on the horizon!

Now, our fair city boasts dozens of fabulous restaurants. But Restaurant Week (this winter we're having two: January 21-27 AND January 28-February 3) is celebrated around here for three primary reasons:

1. The chefs invent original menus often featuring seasonal ingredients or dishes you won't find on the regular menu. This showcases each chef's creativity (even more than usual) and gives the entire experience an exclusive "VIP" feel.

2. Since the menusare prix fixe, you don't have to choose between an appetizer or dessert with your entree--you get both! In the past, menus have included three courses for $26 per person. This year, because of the popularity of the event and the increased number of participating restaurants, the menus range in their price points. Week 1 offers $29 or $36 menus, depending on the restaurant (see Week 1 details here). Week 2 offers menus that may be $16 (2 courses), $26 (3 courses), or $36 (3 premium courses) per person (check the Week 2 website here for details). There's no finer way to enjoy fine dining affordably!

3. A portion of each meal goes to a local cause or charity. This year's Restaurant Weeks benefit the Local Food Hub, a sustainable local food distribution model that connects central Virginia farmers with institutions that purchase locally grown produce, and the Virginia Institute of Autism which uses education, outreach, and other services to help people overcome the challenges of autism.

You can review the list of participating restaurants for Week 1 here or Week 2 here. The menus promise to be posted soon as the chefs finalize their dishes, but in the meantime, hop over to the restaurants' websites to get a feel for each cuisine, or feel free to leave a comment if you have a specific question about a restaurant that we can answer.

Maybeyou'd like to try a Mediterranean-inspired meal at Orzo? (Source)

Restaurant Week is a fun, exciting time, and we hope you'll be a part of it, especially with double the opportunity to do so! Be sure to make your reservations early. Let us know how we at the Foxfield Inn can help you plan your visit. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we'll share our picks for the restaurants with the hottest menus and re-interpret some of the dishes in our own breakfasts!